Road trip to anywhere... where would you go?

[SallyMander]

So Iza and I have cooked up this crazy idea... I'm going to be finishing grad school next winter/spring, and he'll be starting again in the fall (2009). We are thinking of taking two months or so in the summer for a belated honeymoon road trip extravaganza!!!

Iza has never been to any of the national parks out west... I've never been to the Pacific Northwest... He wants to see redwoods... where should we go???

We will be traveling in the most fabulous of all vehicles, our 1982 VW Vanagon, which by then will be running on veggie oil:





Any suggestions?

:woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo:

[Haole Girl]

1. Be sure to see Yosemite...

If you go during peak season, you need to reserve your campground space early!!

Have fun!!

:bounce:

[SallyMander]

2. Ooh, yes, definitely Yosemite!

We were watching something on the travel channel about Yosemite. It's spectacular!

Thanks KC2! :hug:

[Cant trust em]

33. Best times for Yosemite are early spring after the thaw.

That makes the waterfalls go crazy.

Or try in the dead of winter. It's dead quiet and very peaceful. Great for long walks.

[SallyMander]

51. Unfortunately we'll probably hit it at the height of tourist season

Bummer... but the time we have off will be June-August.

[dysfunctional press]

77. we went in mid-september, and did ome backcountry back-packing...

it wasn't very crowded, and it got COLD at night.
we stayed a couple days by cathedral lake- it was gorgeous.

[Cant trust em]

88. If you're into long hikes, you'll be fine.

If you're into tough hikes, I highly recommend doing half dome. Here's a picture of me at the top. It's an experience you cannot forget.

[SallyMander]

100. Wow, that is *stunning*

How long is the hike?

:hi:

[XemaSab]

3. It makes a big difference whether you go in the winter or spring

It's going to be cold and rainy/snowy almost anywhere you go in the winter. And if you go anywhere before late May or June, some mountain passes might be closed.

A two month road trip extravaganza, eh?

I'd go across the south in one direction and the north in the other direction.

Going across the South I'd DEFINITELY hit southern Utah and the parks there. It's God's country down there. You might want to go to the Grand Canyon and Vegas (which I've never been to), then take 395 up to Mono Lake, hitting Death Valley on the way. From Mono Lake, go over Tioga Pass through Yosemite, then take the 41 over to the coast. Go ALL the way up the coast (through Big Sur, Monterey, Santa Cruz, the Bay Area, Point Reyes, the Sonoma coast, Mendocino, Redwoods National and State Parks, Arcata, Oregon, and parts of Washington state, all the way to the Olympic peninsula). Take a ferry to the San Juan Islands, look for skylark, and proceed to mainland Washington state. Go up through North Cascades National Park, and cut over through Glacier. Then go home.

What you'll be missing with this particular route is Tucson, Sequoia/Kings Canyon, Lake Tahoe (which is overrated), Lassen (which is underrated), Crater Lake (which I've never been to), Seattle, and Mt. St. Helens (which is worth the detour). You could probably tack Colorado on the front, and detour south to Yellowstone on the back.

Sounds like a BLAST.

(And on edit, you COULD, if you get bored with Highway 1, cut over to the 5 at Crescent City, and go up the 5 hitting Crater Lake, Portland, and Mt. St. Helens, then drive from Olympia over to Aberdeen (or thereabouts) and resume the drive up the 1. That would probably save some time you'd spend driving for actual sightseeing.)

And get a parks pass!

[SallyMander]

10. Thank you SO much, XemaSab!

This looks like a great itinerary! I am definitely bookmarking for later reference. :D

I've been to Bryce and Zion, and i told Iza that he HAS to see them... amazing!

We'll probably be leaving in June, btw (only a year away! Yahoo!).

:yourock:

:loveya:

[XemaSab]

27. You're welcome

There's probably some good herping in there too. ;)

[SallyMander]

49. I'd love to see one of these guys

:bounce:

[XemaSab]

59. Oh, my itinerary also leaves out Joshua Tree

(but you could make a detour!)

[yellowdogintexas]

94. link to the National Park Service website

http://www.nps.gov/

enjoy.

There are so many wonderful parks in this great country.

I just went to 3 : Wind Cave, Jewel Cave (South Dakota) and Theodore Roosevelt (NOrth Dakota) all were wonderful. We also waved at Mount Rushmore

[SallyMander]

101. Thanks for the tips!

I wish we could leave NOW! :D

[Arugula Latte]

4. The national parks in southern Utah are AMAZING.

Arches, Bryce, Zion, etc. The Grand Canyon is also a must-see.

I love the Northwest, but, hell, I live here. :)

[SallyMander]

11. Lucky duck!

:P


I'm hoping we have long enough that we can do something like what XemaSab suggested above... a giant loop around the country! :D

Thanks! :hi:

[astonamous]

5. Mt. Mckinley, Alaska!

My son is spending the summer there and loves it. He says it is "Way Cool!" there. He's a pot head and only 21, so I don't think he is talking about the weather.

[SallyMander]

12. LOL!

That may be a little too far (we're in Ohio)... but maybe if we get ambitious! What is your son doing there? (Besides the obvious :smoke: )

:hi:

[astonamous]

21. Summer job with Princess Tours...

http://www.princesslodges.com/mckinley_lodge.cfm

He's working as a Bellman.

[SallyMander]

53. Wow, that looks beautiful!!!

What a great summer gig!

[leftyclimber]

6. Yosemite, Redwoods, Crater Lake, and Olympic.

That takes you north from Yos. Then head east through North Cascades, go over to Montana and go to Glacier, drop down and hit Yellowstone (Old Faithful is a surrealist must, but check out some of the other areas, too), drop down to Wyoming and hit the Tetons and Devil's Tower, drop down a little more and hit Rocky Mountain National Park...

I can keep going, if you want. I left a bunch of them out, but I was trying to think two months. I'm a total National Parks fiend.

-lefty

[SallyMander]

13. Ooh, this sounds good

I'm going to have to pull up a map and see how this fits in with XemaSab's trip (if at all)... so much to see!!!

Thanks! :D

[leftyclimber]

25. Whatever you do, follow all instructions about bears TO THE LETTER.

No perfume, no hairspray, clean up your cooking area really well (no crumbs), food where the rangers tell you to put it. In Yosemite you MUST use the bear boxes supplied in the campground, because the bears have figured out that cars are big bear cookie jars.

And don't freak out about the bears. They're really not a big deal if you follow bear protocol. Just make sure you do it, please. And if you want to see wildlife in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, look for zillions of parked cars along the highway. Those will be tourists stopped to see critters. ;)

[SallyMander]

34. Will do!

I'd be really excited to see bears - from a safe distance! :D

[leftyclimber]

37. Bummer thing is, you probably won't see any at all.

I've been around bears a bunch, had friends have run-ins with bears going to the loo in the middle of the night, and I've never actually seen one outside of a zoo. Even went to an area where there'd been a grizzly attack recently, and no soap.

Although if you go up to the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone, you might get to see some wolves, which would be even cooler, IMO.

[SallyMander]

48. Wolves would be awesome too

I got to see a mountain lion when i was living in California - it was one of the coolest things i've ever seen. Luckily i was in my car at the time!

[Broken_Hero]

7. Maine, nt

[SallyMander]

14. I'm hoping we can go there on a separate trip!

I'm from the Boston area, so we may even go out this summer before our wedding and do a weekend trip to Maine. I worked for a summer in Damariscotta - SOOO pretty there!

:hi:

[Broken_Hero]

16. I've heard good things about it

and hitting all the lobster shacks I can, also appeals to me...I'm a S. King fan as well, and it would be nice to see if I can find Derry....:D

[SallyMander]

19. If you visit in the summer

Stephen King may be at Fenway! :D

[Broken_Hero]

22. I'll probably hit Maine in the fall sometime

miss all the tourist traps and what not...I'm thinking end of Oct, beginning of Nov...I'm from Alaska, and I know how tourism season is...for us, its a complete and utter fiasco.

[SallyMander]

54. Yup, New England gets crazy

Northern New England is especially hopping during foliage season - but it's worth it to see the colors. :hi:

[lizziegrace]

8. Either to California to kidnap Oedi

or to Oklahoma to chase storms with my nephew. :)

[SallyMander]

15. Chase storms?

What does he do?

And should we drop Oedi in Wisconsin after we kidnap him? :D


Hope you're doing well sweetie! :hug: :loveya:

[lizziegrace]

43. Absolutely!

Dangerously Amused and I will work out a shared custody/use agreement for our dear Oedi. :evilgrin:

My nephew is a professional storm chaser. He's a college student by day and an obsessed storm chaser whenever he can cut class. Some of his video has been in CNN.

:)

I'm doing well. :hug:

Miss you and Iza. :(

[SallyMander]

47. Wow, that's really neat!

If i ever saw a tornado i would be moving very quickly in the opposite direction!!! :scared:

Anything else i could probably deal with...


We miss you too! Hey, when does lelapin plan to graduate? I am thinking of delaying my graduation until next winter/spring, and i thought it would be a hoot if we graduated together. :D

:hug:

:loveya:

[EstimatedProphet]

9. You need to go to Oregon, along the Columbia Gorge.

[SallyMander]

17. I would love to get out there

Oregon, Washington and maybe even BC. :woohoo:

Thanks! :D

[littlebit]

26. Definitely

That has got to be the most beautiful stretch of highway in the US.

[LSK]

18. I-70 west out of Denver to Grand Junction

Probably the best interstate drive in the country.

[SallyMander]

20. Thanks LSK!

Funny, cuz I-70 in Ohio (and Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas) is boooooring! Glad it gets fun out west. :D

And we'll actually be able to drive on interstates now, if we want, because we put a turbo in our Vanagon! Before that it would be wheezing at 55 mph. :rofl:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

23. To the Cascades!! Then south.

Until the green is too much to take :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Range

Where you begin is entirely up to you.

Blessings of joy to you both :hug: :loveya:

[SallyMander]

35. Ohhh, beeee-yootiful!

Thanks SCE! :hug: :loveya: :hug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

24. Don't miss Lake Tahoe

It's gorgeous.

[SallyMander]

36. I've seen Tahoe - but Iza never has

It is stunning! :D

:hi:

[TZ]

28. If you go through Colorado...

You MUST see Rocky Mountain National Park. What a great spot for birds, and large mammals! We literally hit stopped traffic waiting for groups of Big Horned Sheep crossing the roads..and the tundra was amazing at the high elevation.

[SallyMander]

38. Ooh, neither of us has seen RMNP

And bighorn sheep - that would be awesome!

Thanks! :hug:

[yellowdogintexas]

95. and plan some time for Great Sand Dunes which is just plain fun. OH if you can

take a train trip on the Cumbres and Toltec Railroad from Antonito CO to Chama NM
day trip on the train, w/ lunch, then they bus you back from Chama to Antonito. That is a really neat trip.

The Durango Silverton is a great trip too.

view of the great gorge on the Cumbres Toltec

[SallyMander]

102. WOW, what a pic!

Thanks for the info! :hi:

[yellowdogintexas]

123. glad you enjoyed the pictures. That shot is just as you emerge from a tunnel

it is a very WOW experience.

I know you are going to have a great trip. The National Parks have great campgrounds too. If you camp in Yellowstone the most central campground is on the park road that heads to West Yellowstone. Plenty of good places to eat there. Park food is mediocre EXCEPT at the big restaurant at Mammoth Hot Springs.

[RebelOne]

99. Steamboat Springs is a pretty neat place, though touristy. n/t

[SallyMander]

103. Thanks!

:hi:

[khashka]

29. Northern CA to start

San Francisco (beautiful), the wine country (Napa) and then work your way up.

Or down. The PCH has great views and San Simeon (the Hearst Castle) is simply amazing.

Khash.

[SallyMander]

39. I'd love to drive the whole California coast

It'll depend how much time we end up having... but what an adventure that would be! :D


Thanks! :hi:

[laylah]

30. Sweet van!

I have an '82 Westy. Absolutely LOVE it. If at all possible, I'd make sure to attend the Telluride Bluegrass Fest in Telluride, CO over Father's Day week-end. An experience you would never forget!

[SallyMander]

40. Aww, yeah???

I'm pretty sure they are the coolest vehicle EVAH!!! :D

Have you done many trips in yours? How long have you had it?

Oh, Iza would love a bluegrass festival - that's definitely something to keep in mind. Thanks! :hug:

[laylah]

44. Bought my first one

in '91. It was an '81 and air cooled...not a good thing. Spent many a week-end in the mountains and took it to Telluride for 15 years. The '82 was bought in 2000. Not as many good memories as the original but still love it. Yes, please consider the BG fest...you won't regret it :hug:

[SallyMander]

Will do!

I will definitely bookmark this thread for future reference! :D

And I'm sure the good memories will come with the "new" van. :hug:

[laylah]

91. A link to the bg fest...

www.bluegrass.com

[SallyMander]

107. Thanks again laylah!

:hug:

[BeachBaby]

31. Oh, but I envy you!!!!!

How are ya, babe? :hi:

I've been wanting to do a road trip to Bryce Canyon, Utah.



If you get there before I do, send me pictures!!!!! Pretty please????

So happy for you and Iza - sounds like you guys will be having the honeymoon I always dreamed of! So cool.

Keep us posted on your plans, k? :hug:

[SallyMander]

42. I was just telling Iza about Bryce!

I said we should go there because it's like nothing else in the world... just totally surreal and beautiful! I will absolutely take pictures. We actually have a blog up and running (but sort of dormant right now) so we can post pics and stories about our travels. I'll send you the link if you want. :D

Haven't seen you around much recently - how have you been? Hope all is well!

:hug:

:loveya:

[BeachBaby]

73. Glad to hear it's on your list!

And yes! Please send me that link whenever you're ready. Would love to see all the pics.

I've been mostly MIA the last few weeks. Death in the family, followed by some good, old-fashioned family drama....combine that with working and raising two boys and I'm out of time. :) But things are slowly getting back to normal.

Thanks for asking, babe.:hug:

[SallyMander]

75. Sorry to hear the sad news

I'm glad to hear that things are looking up a bit. Make sure to take some time for yourself every now and again! :hug:

Oh, and check your PM. :D

[Cant trust em]

32. That's exactly what I want to do.

I live in California and I want to go visit Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and all of those national parks in the west, or to me, east.

[SallyMander]

45. You're much closer than we are

I hope you make it out there soon! :D

:hi:

[Cant trust em]

87. Not with gas prices the way they are

First off, I don't have a car. Renting one + gas prices are just too much for me to make.

I have a burning, yearning desire though.

[SallyMander]

104. Yeah... i hear you

The Vanagon is diesel, which is even worse!!! But we're converting it to run on veggie oil, so hopefully we won't *totally* break the bank.

[grannylib]

41. Canyon de Chelly national monument in Arizona. Way cool.

Took a youth group from church to a Navajo reservation a few years back; we stopped there on the way out. It was really cool!

[SallyMander]

46. That's one i'm not familiar with

Thanks for the suggestion! :D

:hi:

[grannylib]

56. You will see many small lizards there! There is a large spire

called "Spider Rock" that's one of the main features; it rises up out of the canyon floor, and it's pretty awesome. It's where the White House monument is, which is an Anasazi dwelling tucked under the cliff. Navajo still own and farm some of the land in the canyon, if I remember right.

[SallyMander]

58. Sounds very cool

Everything out there is so unlike the landscape here... I'm so excited now, wish we could leave tomorrow! :D

[Doug.Goodall]

50. Winslow, Arizona

<>

http://www.meteorcrater.com/rvpark/rvpark.htm

Then on to Las Vegas and Area 51!

[SallyMander]

52. Great, now i have "Take It Easy" stuck in my head

;)


Seriously though, that looks neat - thanks for the suggestion! And welcome to DU! :hi:

(On edit... i guess you've been here a while... but welcome nonetheless! LOL)

[harmonicon]

66. do not go to the Meteor Crater thing

It's privately owned, and they want to charge you like $25 to go through some tour and watch a stupid movie, even if you just want to go look around at the crater, and there's not good way to just go to the side and have a look - it's all fenced off. Big stupid scam. There are loads of other cool things in the area though.

[SallyMander]

70. Good to know

Thanks harmonicon! :hi:

[harmonicon]

89. You're welcome, SallyMander :)

Well, I guess just make up your own mind - maybe other people like it. I'm going cross country this summer, but only for a week or so. It's one of my favourite things to do, and I'm really jealous of you. One thing that you should think about though (!) - if you're going to be taking the doggies along, they can't get into many national parks. On my last trip, we had the dog with us, so had to take a pass on things like Zion NP, which was too bad, because it does live up to the hype. You can keep them in the car, but it was hot out when I had the dog, so I wasn't going to let her stay in the car for longer than a few minutes at a time.

[SallyMander]

105. Oh, crap!

I didn't think about that... yeah, I've been to Zion and Bryce, and i would *love* to take Iza there... hmm. This is a major snag. I mean, i'm sure my mom would watch the pooches, but they're part of the family! :(

Thanks for the heads-up though!

[harmonicon]

115. just look at the different parks' websites

You can take dogs on some of the trails at the grand canyon, and certain parts of other parks, but some of the places out west say that dogs can't be let out of the car at all. If you're going in the spring, and especially with the camper van, I wouldn't think the dogs staying in the car would be a problem. That is, it wouldn't get too hot. You can take dogs to National Forests, and we did that with our dog, just outside of the Grand Canyon. We actually probably spent more time there playing around than we did in the actual park, because puppy could come. If you're like me, and not into the super long hikes, you can see the sights at some of the parks very quickly, and wouldn't have to spend much time at them. I know what you mean about them being part of the family though. My girlfriend and I live in different countries, and I travel all of the time, and we just live strange lives in general, so having an actual family would be insane, but having a family that involves just us an the pup works out well (though the dog gets to live with her, which means that I have to miss both of them).

[SallyMander]

117. Oh, good, this makes me feel better

I'm sure there are a gazillion neat places that we can go with the dogs... and as long as it's not too warm, we should be able to leave them in the van for short stretches. It even has screen windows we can open. :D

Another angle of research we'll have to do, but I'm sure we can figure it out!

Where does your girlfriend live? That must be really difficult! Maybe you should get another dog so you can each keep one of them. :)

[harmonicon]

119. my girlfriend lives in France

She's moving to San Diego this summer though, which sucks - further away, and not as nice to visit. She really hates the school she's at now though, and is looking forward to starting a Doctoral program, and being closer to her family and friends. I won't get a dog, because to bring dogs into England, they have to be in quarantine for months, and my research is only funded here for a little more than two years. Traveling with a dog on planes also just totally sucks, even if it wasn't England. I get to see the dog when I visit the lady, and my parents also have a dog that I spend a lot of time with when I'm at their place, but I haven't seen him for almost a year. My brother also has a great dog, so I'm all dogged out state-side, and in France, just not here. I think I'll get some house plants.... since I'm away from home for a month or more at a time at various times throughout the year, that's probably the closest I could get to having a pet.

[SallyMander]

120. Aww, well i hope you'll get to be together soon!

Do you plan to move back to the States after two years? And what's your research on? I'm in a doctoral program in biology... always curious to hear about other research!

Sounds like you might want to go for a cactus for now! :D

[harmonicon]

124. my research is in experimental music

Specifically composition and notation (well, more specific than that, but without pasting my thesis proposal here, I think it's best left at that). I've seen your profile thing about your research before, and it sounds really great - real research, not this silly stuff that only impacts a few hundred people the world over, at best.

I plan on going back to the states as a default, and because my gf will still be in school there, but really I'd prefer to stay in Europe. There's just a much better reception to my work, and the type of work that I do, over here on both academic and non-academic levels. My two main advisors are both less than 10 years older than me, and some of the lecturers at my university are my age. I had always thought that a career in academia would be a long shot, and only came here for a PhD because of the community, not because I thought the degree would help me get a job. Now I think that I could have a career in England in all goes well in the next few years. I'd rather be in continental Europe, but beggars can't be choosers. I get paid to do exactly what I love to do - I never even thought I'd be this lucky. I almost feel bad for thinking about wanting something else in the future, because I feel so blessed to be in the my current situation.

How much longer do you have before you'll get your doctorate? Are there jobs to be had in your field?

[Canuckistanian]

85. Don't forget Winona! Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino.....

You'll see Amarillo... Gallup, New Mexico.....

(snaps fingers wistfully)

[SallyMander]

108. LOL

:D

:hi:

[appal_jack]

55. Sally, you got some fly rims on that westy!

...and a turbo-diesel in it too?!? Woot!

...and you also have a lot of good advice already from DU'ers.

But here's my $.02, delivered at a discount:

Hot Springs. We don't have many of them in the east, so my trips to hot springs out west were always rad. Especially when I was traveling with a sweetie. My all-time favorite hot springs are on the Olympic Penninsula, but there are also good ones near Yosemite, and all up and down the west coast really. The hike-in, primitive, free ones are the ones I like best.

If you do Cali, I suggest going from south to north, 'cuz then it just gets better and better. San Fran (which is as south as I recommend) is a great city, but not really camping friendly. Wine country is great: my fav. vineyard in Napa is Benziger (more upscale than I can afford to drink, but very worth a visit and maybe one or two special bottles to take home), and then further north in Mendo is Frey, which is all organic, and run by an entirely kind and groovy family. Their wine is more affordable too.

Are you and Iza into roots music festivals? Perfect place to park that westy for a while. Reggae on the River in Humboldt is the mega-fest, and Trinity Tribal Stomp was a smaller but cool fest when I was last out that way (~2000). Humboldt, Mendo, and Trinity also happen to be the three corners of the Emerald Triangle, which has plenty of other good things going for it...

I echo all the national parks rec's, and will add one more: jewel Cave National Monument is pretty awesome (and awesomely pretty).

Lots more out there, but I gotta get back to work now.



:hi: :loveya: :hug:

-app

[SallyMander]

60. Rims are all original, baby!

We bought it from the original owner, who absolutely babied it. It's never seen snow or salty roads, even though it spent 25 years in Chicago. Only 75,000 miles on it, too! :rofl:

Thanks for the advice! I think a big loop - taking a southern route west, cruising up the CA coast, and a northern route back home - would be perfect.

And we are totally up for wineries and festivals! Thanks for your suggestions!!!


Hey, and how's it going, app??? :hug: :loveya: :hug:

[appal_jack]

62. wow, the whole rig is gorgeous.

I don't think I've ever noticed that rim design on a vanagon. I once looked at an 81 air cooled gasser (not a Westy), but I think that its rims were more basic. I passed on it, as air-cooled, heat-less vans are not for me.

How'm I? Working too much and playing too little still, but hanging in there. Very hopeful about the recent political (i.e. Democratic) events. Ready to get to work for our guy (for Obama, I can certainly spare some time and energy!)

-app

[SallyMander]

71. Thanks app!

We are totally in love with the beastie. :D

Any playtime coming up in the near future? You can't let the summer go by without slacking off a bit!

As for Obama... hooray!!! I am excited about him, and excited that primary season is *finally* over!

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

57. I second the Cascades.

You should also go out to Olympic National Park.

[SallyMander]

61. I would love to see that part of the world!

Thanks sweetie! :hug:

[Mendocino]

63. If I had two months

I would drive from Ohio, into MI, cross over on 96 to Muskegon, up the west side, through the Leelanau/Traverse City area, then into the UP, the Soo and around Lake Superior. Go west all the way to the Banff/Jasper area of the Canadian Rockies. Drive through BC to Vancouver. Cross into Washington, North Cascades, Mt Baker, Seattle, Olympic Range. Mt Rainer. Down to Columbia River Gorge, Crater Lake, Oregon Coast into California, Redwoods, Mt Lassen and Shasta. Head NE to Idaho, Sawtooth Mts, Salmon River, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Wind River Range. Then down past Flaming Gorge, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde. Back up through central Colorado to Rocky Mountain NP. Then the LONG trek back home on 70.

[SallyMander]

69. Thanks so much Mendocino!

This is a whole bunch of great ideas! Thanks for the itinerary! :D

:hi:

[mopinko]

64. i must recommend somewhere flat.

i have had a couple of volkswagons, and i have done some driving in mountains, even with a big car, and i must recommend that you take the flattest possible trip.

[SallyMander]

68. Haha - we were worried about that

So we actually just had a turbo put in! We're quite zippy now! :D

[mopinko]

72. well, ok then.

charge on up, then.
but i, personally, would not push it. a turbo on that old engine, on a hot road, up a tall mountain might just be a little too much. iow, make sure there is the maximum possible wiggle room on the charge card.

[SallyMander]

74. We'll be careful

We try to baby the car... she's an old gal, after all. :) We mostly like to stay off the interstate anyway - there's more to see that way!

[mopinko]

76. you've probably been there and all, but

i am looking forward to going back to the fingerlake/niagra area. we drove through there on our way to maine a few years ago, and stayed the night right there by the falls. (at a koa, i think.) i thought it was really beautiful. and interesting.
lots of stuff to do in wisconsin, which is pretty flat. and it's flat to get there. you could spend a few days in chicago on your way through!

[SallyMander]

84. We have been to Niagara

but it was COLD and night-time. Not the best planning involved. ;)

Wisconsin is a good thought for a shorter trip this summer, maybe... we are also on the lookout for weekend/half-week trips.

Thanks again! :hi:

[LeftyMom]

65. Someplace with a passing lane.

For some reason, I always get stuck behind a Vanagon/Westfalia doing 25 mph through the curvy, hilly parts on Hwy 1, and start wishing I could legally mount a rocket launcher on the roof of my Saturn.

[SallyMander]

67. LOL! That used to be us...

But we just had a turbo put in!!! Now we can cruise at 70 mph, and even make it uphill without losing too much speed. It's a big improvement! :D

[dysfunctional press]

78. your VANagon would love it in VANcouver.

nt

[SallyMander]

81. I'd love to see Vancouver!

I've never heard a bad thing about that city...

:hi:

[Shine]

79. Come to Santa Cruz!!!

:bounce:

I'll buy ya a couple o' beers! :hi:

It's beautiful out here and there's plenty to do!

[SallyMander]

82. Oh, if we go to CA we will DEFINITELY hit Santa Cruz!

I spent 6 months in Carmel Valley (field research assistant) and i fell in love with that whole area.

And OMG it would be super fabulous to meet you!!! :7

:hug:

[Shine]

96. Keep in touch!

:pals:

:hi:

[SallyMander]

106. Will do!

I am looking forward to those beers! :9

:hug:

[Generic Brad]

80. Hawaii

But someone would have to pimp my ride for an ocean journey first. Volunteers?

[SallyMander]

83. LOL

I don't think i have the technical capability for that... maybe you could buy one of those Duck Tour car/boats? :D

[WinkyDink]

86. Rte. 1. Totally.

[SallyMander]

109. Soooo pretty!

:hi:

[Callalily]

90. Vermont!

I simply adore Vermont!

[SallyMander]

110. Me too!

I grew up near Boston, so we may be able to do a VT/NH/ME trip this summer...??

:hi:

[BarenakedLady]

92. That is so awesome!

I'm jealous. Ahhhh to be young, in love, and free to just travel. *sigh*

I have no good ideas for you. I just wanted to wallow in my jealousy. LOL.

[SallyMander]

111. No wallowing!

I hope you get to have a fun adventure soon sweetie! :hug:

[yellowdogintexas]

93. Has no one mentioned Yellowstone/Grand Tetons? I am aghast. Just a few shots to tempt you

from the Yellowstone Canyon side of park

Mt Moran in the Tetons

some geyser/hot pool shots from Yellowstone:






and the front lawn of the visitor's center @ Yellowstone.



edited to add: if you are planning to hit this many national parks/monuments, spring for the National Parks Season Pass, which will admit you to any park with a gate fee.. tour tickets in places like Carlsbad Caverns would be extra, but then CCNP does not have a gate fee.

OH you are going to try to hit Carlsbad, aren't you?

[SallyMander]

112. Thanks for the awesome pics!!!

This thread is making me want to leave TOMORROW! :D

My sister and I went to Carlsbad - i would love to go back with Iza. It is unbelievable!!!

:hi:

[electron_blue]

97. Avoid the desert/high desert parks out west in summer.

Although the G.Canyon would be fine even in summer, bcs of its high elevation at the rim. Just don't plan any hikes down into the canyon. Save the west for a trip that is not summer. My two cents.

[SallyMander]

113. That is a good point

Especially since Iza turns into a major grump in the heat. ;)

:hi:

[applegrove]

98. I'd do a frank lloyd Wright trip of the USA. Or Hawaii. I'd do all of Hawaii's beaches.

[SallyMander]

114. Hawai'i would be tough to drive to, hehee

:hi:

[applegrove]

129. I'd go there in Jan/Feb I think when those ginormous waves are

on.

[Canuckistanian]

116. Personally, I'd recommend the North Shore of Lake Superior

If you can make it that far.

Breathtaking scenes like these for hundreds of miles.

[SallyMander]

118. Whoooaaa, thanks for the pics!

That is just beautiful! And perhaps a northward trip would be the thing to do in the summer...

Thanks! :hi:

[CreekDog]

121. Montana. But in a Vanagon?

i'd be lucky to make it out of the county. :rofl:

cool ride though. :applause: needs a toyota engine.

[SallyMander]

122. LOL!

:spank:

Actually we just had a turbo put in - now we are CRUUUUUUSIN!!! :D

[ThomCat]

125. Wherever you end up, have a wonderful time.

:hug:

We'll all be horribly jealous of the two of you. :P

[fizzgig]

126. highway 1 is the most beautiful drive i've ever been on

we've driven it from san francisco to seattle and it is breath taking. i hope to do it again some time. the redwoods were so beautiful.

a few people have mentioned rocky mountain national park (i'm just over an hour from one of the park entrances ;)). estes park is a cute little town and the stanley hotel is stunning

if you make it there, i would suggest heading up to south dakota (or hitting there first and the cutting down here). mount rushmore, crazy horse, the badlands, the black hills...amazing country. deadwood was pretty fun, too.

from rmnp you can also head west, go through moab and see the arches (something i have always wanted to do) or head south and do mesa verde, black canyon of the gunnison, the sand dunes, etc.

there is so much out here, i just hope the westie can handle the mountains :D

[Flaxbee]

127. One of my closest friends lives in Bozeman, MT, and knows

Yellowstone extremely well - where to camp, hike, etc. Summer is a gorgeous time of year in Yellowstone.

Anyway - I know your dream trip is a while off, but if/when you go, and Bozeman/Yellowstone in on your itinerary, let me know and I'll be happy to introduce you guys.

[SeattleGirl]

128. The Grand Canyon!

And then head up here to SeattleLand so I can meet you! :bounce: :bounce:

[Biscottiii]

130. For as much travelling as you will do, be SURE to get an Annual Natl Park Svc Pass

You will save a fortune, just driving in & out of the parks. About a year ago, my Sis paid around $50 but with her grandkids in the car it paid for itself in just 1-2 parks they visited.

[bobmorr1]

131. western trip

In Colorado take the north route trough Rocky National National Park, climb hanging lake on that northern route. Stop to see Colorado National Park, Grand Canyon of the Gunnison and finaly at the sw tip see Mesa Verde before heading towards the Grand Canyon. On towards California. Head towards San Diego. See the Wild Animal Park instead of the zoo. Head up route 1 towards the Redwoods. Go east from San Francisco to Yosemite. The west has some of the greatest sites in the country. Have a great time. Did that route back in 1985.